Key Moments
Does Meaning Come From Mattering? | Rebecca Goldstein
Closer To TruthKey Moments
The drive to matter is more fundamental than the search for meaning, arising from our innate need to justify our own significance in a universe governed by natural laws.
Key Insights
The author's "mattering instinct" theory, developed over 40 years, suggests that our deepest drive is not for meaning itself, but for the justification of our own significance.
While religious belief offers transcendent explanations for purpose, the author finds joy in the idea that the laws of nature can ultimately explain everything, a perspective akin to Spinoza's 'Deus sive Natura' (God or Nature).
Meaningfulness, according to the author, is a secondary concept derived from the primary drive to matter; a well-functioning "mattering project" leads to a sense of meaning in life.
Spinoza's concept of 'conatus' (the drive for self-preservation and thriving) is central, but the author argues that humans uniquely take this a step further by seeking to justify their conatus and prove they are deserving of their own attention.
Mattering, unlike Schopenhauer's universal 'will', has a justificatory component unique to humans, who seek to prove they are deserving of their own self-attention.
Wittgenstein's life, marked by profound suffering despite his philosophical pursuits, illustrates the distinction between happiness and flourishing (eudaimonia), and highlights that even a life dedicated to a 'mattering project' can be considered wonderful.
The surprising universality of the 'mattering instinct'
Philosopher Rebecca Goldstein recounts her four-decade journey toward articulating the 'mattering instinct,' a concept so far-reaching that it initially caused her to doubt its validity, imagining herself as an "obsessive" with a singular explanatory tool. This self-doubt, a product of her analytic philosophy training, significantly slowed her writing process for her book, "The Mattering Instinct." However, she asserts that this is not about excluding other frameworks for understanding human mentality but introducing a new, foundational one. The instinct to matter, she suggests, is a deeply rooted human need that underpins our search for meaning and purpose.
Finding ultimate explanations in nature, not transcendence
Goldstein contrasts the transcendent explanations sought by religious belief with her own deep satisfaction derived from the laws of nature. Raised in a religious household, she found that while religious people seek purpose from a transcendent being, her own temperament thrives on the idea that natural laws can explain everything, including the fundamental questions of existence. This pursuit of a "final theory of everything" brings her joy, akin to the solace religious individuals find in a creator. This perspective aligns with Spinoza's concept of 'Deus sive Natura,' where nature itself is the ultimate explanation, not requiring an external divine source. She views this intellectual satisfaction as a form of ultimate explanation, resonating with the scientific drive to find comprehensive theories that explain reality from within its own principles. This intellectual orientation, she posits, is a deep-seated preference for an unadorned, self-explaining universe.
Mattering as the foundation for meaning
The concept of 'meaning' in life, a notion Goldstein previously struggled to grasp, is re-framed through her theory of mattering. She proposes that meaningfulness is a secondary concept, ultimately derived from the 'mattering instinct.' For humans, the existential need is to recognize that we "matter an awful lot to ourselves" and to then justify this significance. This justification occurs through "mattering projects" – projects deemed important that serve us well. When these projects are successful, a sense of meaning emerges. This framework offers a more substantive understanding of meaningfulness than abstract notions, linking it directly to our active engagement in projects that affirm our importance. This contrasts with Victor Frankl's logotherapy, which centers on the search for meaning as a primary driver for survival and well-being, suggesting that Goldstein's approach places the *need to matter* as the more fundamental existential requirement from which meaning is then derived.
Spinoza's conatus and the human leap to justification
Spinoza's concept of 'conatus,' the inherent drive of all beings to persist in their own existence and thrive, significantly influenced Goldstein's work. She views conatus as fundamental to life, a drive amplified by scientific theories like thermodynamics and natural selection. However, she argues that humans go a crucial step beyond conatus. We don't just possess the drive to persist; we have an additional need to *justify* this drive. This involves seeking values and understanding if we are living our lives 'right.' The profound realization that despite the immense attention we must give to ourselves to survive, we intuitively understand we are not the most important thing in the universe creates a "disturbing gap." It is this gap between the attention we afford ourselves and our judgment of our deservingness that distinguishes human consciousness. We seek to justify our own existence and significance, a step beyond the basic persistence central to Spinoza's conatus. This self-justification is intrinsically tied to our valuation of ourselves and our actions.
Mattering's unique human justificatory impulse
Goldstein distinguishes the human drive to matter from more general natural forces, such as Schopenhauer's concept of "the will" which drives all of nature. While both Spinoza's conatus and Schopenhauer's will describe a fundamental drive for existence and persistence, mattering adds a layer of *justification* that is uniquely human. We are not content with merely existing or persisting; we actively seek to prove we are deserving of our own attention. This component of "serving" and "deserving" is what makes humans 'sui generis' – unique. When evaluating what matters, the degree of attention we give something is a measure, and we inherently feel that our own finite selves warrant significant attention. The 'mattering instinct' compels us to validate this self-attention through a process of justification, distinguishing us from the blind, universal forces described by Schopenhauer and even the self-preservation drive in Spinoza's framework.
Wittgenstein's suffering and the nature of a 'wonderful life'
Ludwig Wittgenstein's life serves as a poignant example in Goldstein's discussion of philosophical pursuits and human well-being. Despite dedicating his life to philosophy as his all-consuming "mattering project" and exhibiting immense dedication and high standards, Wittgenstein suffered greatly. His dying words, "Tell them I've lived a wonderful life," are interpreted not as a statement of constant happiness, but as an affirmation of life flourishing or 'eudaimonia.' This highlights a crucial distinction: a life can be filled with suffering and struggle yet still be considered wonderful if it is lived in pursuit of one's deepest convictions and purpose. This contrasts with mere happiness, suggesting that deep engagement with a mattering project, even with its accompanying difficulties, can lead to a profound sense of life satisfaction and fulfillment. Goldstein also draws a parallel to Wittgenstein's assertion that there can be no private language, applying it to suggest there can be no 'private mattering,' as mattering inherently commits us to values and justification.
Mattering commits us to values and normativity
Extending the idea that there can be no private mattering, Goldstein argues that the act of seeking to matter inherently implicates us in values. Whether these values are benevolent or malevolent, the process of justifying our significance requires us to adopt a normative stance. For instance, if someone believes their 'mattering' is achieved by invading another country, they will still seek to justify that action. This inherent need for justification means we are "normative creatures through and through." Because we long to matter, our existence has an intrinsic normative aspect, pushing us into the realm of values and ethical considerations. This makes ethics unavoidable in any discussion of mattering, as the very act of seeking significance compels us to define what is considered significant or valuable, even if those values are ultimately harmful.
Living counter-entropically as a guide to values
Goldstein offers a prescriptive outlook based on the 'mattering instinct,' suggesting life itself is fundamentally "counter-entropic." Life is a continuous struggle against entropy—the natural tendency towards disorder, decay, and death. Therefore, a good way to live is to align oneself with this life force, to be as counter-entropic as possible by embracing creativity and avoiding destruction. This principle can guide our values: knowledge over ignorance, clarity over confusion, creativity over destruction, flourishing over suffering, and beauty over ugliness. All the preferable states demand order and represent a fight against entropy. Thus, for those who do not seek values from divine sources or sacred texts, Goldstein proposes looking to the laws of nature themselves, understanding that life and flourishing are inherently ordered processes that actively resist the universe's tendency towards disorder. This 'fight for order' offers a naturalistic basis for values.
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Common Questions
The book explores the concept of 'mattering,' the fundamental human need to feel that one's life has significance and purpose. Goldstein posits this as a core driver of human mentality and a foundation for understanding the search for meaning.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
Mentioned for his philosophical clarity, particularly his response to the question of evidence for a creator.
Mentioned in relation to seeking a final theory of everything that explains existence.
Psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor whose 'search for meaning' is contrasted with Rebecca Goldstein's 'mattering instinct'.
Author of a memoir about Wittgenstein, cited for his observations on Wittgenstein's life and death words.
Book by Stephen Hawking, cited as an example of a work seeking a comprehensive explanation of the universe.
Rebecca Goldstein's book that explores the concept of mattering and its implications for human mentality and meaning.
Book by Victor Frankl detailing his experiences and developing his theory of logotherapy.
Mentioned as a key text influencing Goldstein's thinking on conatus and human justification.
Spinoza's concept of God or Nature, suggesting that nature itself is the ultimate explanation.
Latin for 'cause of itself', a concept in Spinoza's philosophy, referring to nature explaining itself.
A form of psychotherapy developed by Viktor Frankl, focused on the search for meaning.
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